Extensible roller skate with toe clamping means



Jan. 24, 1956 F. M DQRE 2,732,217

EXTENSIBLE ROLLER SKATE WITH TOE CLAMPING MEANS Filed June 24, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 24, 1956 F. M. DORE 2,732,217

EXTENSIBLE ROLLER SKATE WITH TOE CLAMFING MEANS Filed June 24, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 16 5; 46 f2 if 16 1f United States PatentfO EXTENSIBLE ROLLER SKATE WITH TOE CLAMPING MEANS Frank M. Dore, Boston, Mass.

Application June 24, 1953, Serial No. 363,725

4 Claims. (Cl. 28o-11.26)

This invention relates to improvements in roller skates and more particularly to an improved roller skate structure whereby the length of a skate may be quickly adjusted, and a sole clamp quickly and effectively actuated into and out of gripping engagement with a shoe sole by manually operable actuating means which is permav skate following manual actuation of a spring-biased lockf ing element which automatically locks the said sections in whatever relatively adjusted positions they may be in when said locking element is released.

Another object of the invention is to provide a roller skate having inter-fitting plate parts which together constitute a platform including a fore part section and a rear part section to each of which a Vpair of rollers is connected, and having a sole clamp on said fore part section operable by manual means permanently associated with the fore part section and including mechanism which automatically locks the clamp in any condition in which the clamp is left when said manual means is released.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a roller skate having a platform including a fore part sectiona and a rear part section of which the forepart section has a sole clamp thereon actuatable by manual means which is permanently attached to the fore part section and which acts on the jaws of the clamp with a relatively long leverageaction.

It is, moreover, my purpose and object generally to improve the structure andA operative efficiency, of roller skates and more especially such skates which include a sole clamp operable by manual means permanently associated with the skates.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of'a roller skate embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional View on line 2-2of Fig. l;

Fig. 2a is a detail cross-section view on line 285-2a of Fig. 2;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the roller skate of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on line 6 6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a bottom plan view of the clamp-operating mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a 'detail cross-sectional view on line 8 8 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 9 is an exploded view of clamp-operating and locking mechanism. i

Referring to the drawings, the invention is illustrated rice as having a platform which comprises a forepart section 10 and a rearpart section 12 which are relatively adjustable toward and from each other to vary the length of the platform as may be desired to accommodate shoes of varying sizes. The forepart section 10 has rollers 14 mounted thereon, and the rearpart section has rollers 16 mounted thereon.

The platform preferably is constructed of suitably rigid sheet metal stock which may be stamped or otherwise formed to provide the shaped parts which inter-fit as shown, with provision for relative sliding movements of parts when varying the length of the platform.

As best seen in Fig. 2, the platform forepart section 10 comprises two relatively rigid sheet elements'18, 2l) of which the element 18 is shorter than element `20 and has its marginal portions wrapped over the edge margin of element 20, as at 22, all around element 18, ex-

cepting along its edge 24 which is toward the rearpart section 12. Element 20 has substantial extent rearward beyond the edge 24 of element 18 and has the transverse slot 26 therein adjacent to said edge 24 of element 18,

` through which slot a relatively rigid rectangular bar element 28 slidably extends. The bar element 28 is rigid on rearpart section 12 and extends forwardly therefrom in underlying relation to the rearwardly extending portion of forepart element 20. However, forwardly of the slot 26, a portion of element 20 is depressed out of the plane of the remainder of element 20, and the bar element 28 extends slidably through slot 26 and slidably overlies the depressed portion 21 of element 20 and slidably underlies the element 18 throughout its extent forwardly of the said edge 24 of element 18, the

depressedV portion 21 of element 20 being only wide enough to accommodate bar element 28 and guide the movements thereof relative to forepart section 10.

The forepart element 20, rearward of said edge 24 of element 18, has its edge margins turned downwardly to provide depending flanges 208 which extend in parallelism at their approach to rearpart section 12 thereby to serve as tracks along which the rearpart section 12 slides when being adjusted toward and from the forepart section 10. Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, these track flanges engage in grooves 3l) formed along opposite sides of bar element 28 at the rearpart section 12, the outer walls of grooves 30 extending upwardly to the plane of the top surface of the rearwardly extending portion element 20 and being there turned outwardly to provide side anges 32 over which the side margins of a top rearpart element 34 are wrapped as at 36.

The rearpart rollers 16 are mounted on a truck structure as best seen in Figs. 2 and 4, the rollers being on the opposite end portions of an axle 38 about whose central j portion a sheet metal element is wrapped to provide a bearing 42 which extends between the hubs of the two rollers 16. The wrapped sheet element 40 is closed together around the axle and, immediately above the axle,

fis bent" sharply to extend in opposite generally horizontal directions, with opposite end portions of the sheet element turned sharply upward at equal distances from the axle to provide' upstandingtongues 44, 44 between which a resilient shock-absorbing block 46, of rubber or the like, l

may be arranged to rest on the said horizontal portions of element 40, side margins of which may be turned up-y wardly at 39, if desired, to maintain block 44 against lateral displacement.

between and in close parallelism with the tongues 44, 144. A pin' 52 extends horizontally through all of theA tongues 44, 44, 50, 50, securing the sheet elements 40, 48 together;

Cotter pins 54 may extend through the projecting ends of forepart 3 of 'pin 52 t'o` maintain the pin in place, or the pin may be secured in any other suitable manner.

Sheet element 48 includes the up-turned and flaring side portions 56 which extend upwardly and outwardly to -the outer walls 'of the track grooves and vertically upward along these groove walls to the plane 'of the out-turned flanges 32 thereon, at which foot portions 57 on side portions 56 extend outwardly in underlying relation to 'the anges 32 and 'are secured by the wrapped margins 36 of the top rearp'art element 34.

Any suitable heel abutment S8 mayl be secured to rearpart section 12, with rstrap elements 60 connected thereto for securing the rearpart section 12 -t`o the foot of a user of the skate.

Adjustment of 'the length of the skate may be lreadily effected by disengaging a locking means which frees the forepart and rearpa'rt Sections for relative movements toward and from each other. The locking means* comprises a spring-backed button 62 at the under side of the skate adjacent to the rearpart section 12. As best seen in Figs. 2 and 2a, the button 62 is screwed on the lower threaded end of a locking member 64 whose upper end may be formed as best seen in Fig. 1. The rearwardly extending portion of forepart plate element l20 has a slot 66 therein and has two parallel rows of holes 68 therein, one row at each side of slot 66, and locking member 64 bridges the slot and has oppositely disposed depending ears 70 for engaging in any selected pair of the holes 68. Bar element 28 which underlies sheet element 20 has a single pair of holes 72 therein opposite the ears 70, and has a rectangular hole 74 therethrough opposite the slot 66 through which hole 74 the reduced body of locking member 64 loosely depends with the said button 62 on its lower threaded end and with said ears engaging in a selected pair of the holes 68 and in the holes 72. A coil spring 76 on the depending body of the locking member 64 engages between button 62 and the under side of bar element 28 constantly biasing the locking member 64 toward locking engagement. Upward pressure on button 62 lifts the ears 70 out of the holes 68 to release bar element 28 for movements toward and from the forepart section 10.

The forward pair of rollers 14 are mounted on a truck structurewith the rollers on opposite end portions of an axle 78 about whose central portion a sheet metal element 80 is wrapped to provide a bearing 82 which extends be; tween the hubs of the two rollers 14. The wrapped sheet element 80 is closed together around the axle and, immediately above the axle, is bent sharply to extend in opposite generally horizontal directions, with opposite end portions of the sheet element turned sharply upward at equal distances from the axle to provide upstanding tongues 84, 84 between which a resilient shock-absorbing block 86, of rubber or the like, may be arranged to rest on the said horizontal portions of element 80, side margins of which may be turned upwardly at 79, if desired, to maintain the block against lateral displacement.

Another sheet metal element 88 has a atrportion resting on block 86, with down-turned tongues 90, 90 between and in close parallelism with the tongues 84, 84. A pin 92 extends horizontally through all of the tongues 84, 84, 90, 90, and through the block 86, securing the sheet elements 80, 88 and block 86 together. Cotter pins 94 may extend through the projecting ends of pin 92 to maintain the pin in place, or the pin may be secured in any other suitable manner.

Sheet element 88 includes the laterally projecting por tions 87 which extend to opposite sides of its said at portion which rests on block 86 and each portion 87 is bent sharply upward at 89 with an out-turned foot resting on the under margin of forepart element 20 and secured by the wrapped margin 22 of forepart element 18. AV space 96 is thus provided between the said at portion of element 88 and the under siderot forepart element 20.

Clamping members 98, 100 are movably mounted at opposite sides of forepart section 10, each having an outer portion for 'engaging the voutsole of a shoe. Member 98 has a relatively long flat portion which extends inward through a slot 102 in the adjacent portion 89 of truck element 88 with its inner end pivotally connected at 104 to a lever 106 within the said space 96. Clamping member similarly has a relativelylong tiat portion which extends inward through a slot 108 in the adjacent portion 89 of truck element 88 with its inner end pivotally connected at 110 to the forward end of the lever 106 within the space 96. The inner end portions of clamping members 98, 100 are offset relative to their outer end portions to enable the members to move in and out and to provide needed space for such movements, as best illustrated in Fig. 7.

A locking lever 112 also extends into the space 96 and it is connected to the lever 106 by the same pivotal connections which pivotally connect the clamping members 98, 100 to lever 106, the inner ends of the clamping members being between the two levers 106, 112. These levers are pivotally mountcdat 114 on the forepart sheet element 20, with the pivot 114 centrally located between the clamping member pivots 104, 110. Hence, as lever 106 is swung about its pivot 114, the locking lever moves in unison with it, and the clamping members 98, 100 are actuated simultaneously either inwardly or outwardly through the slots 102, 108.

Lever 106 extends rearwardly out of the space 96 and a toothed wheel 116 is mounted at its outer. end for coaction with a perforated curved member 118, which is fixed to the under side of forepart element 20 with its curvature concentric about the pivot 114. Wheel 116 is shown fixed on the upper end of a tubular sleeve member 120which extends rotatably through the outer end of lever -106. A pin 124 extends axially through wheel 116 and axially within sleeve member 120 with a washer 122 on its end within sleeve member 120. Handle 128 is pivoted on sleeve member 120 with pivot portion 127 crossing the interior of the sleeve member and having an enlargement or cam portion 129 thereon. A ball 123 is engaged between the washer 122 and pivot portion 127 of the handle,`and 'a spring 126 constantly biases the washer, pin and ball toward the pivot portion 127 of the handle. Cam portion 129 is adapted to force the ball, washer and pin upwardly in Fig. 8 when the handle is swung about its pivot from its full line position in Fig. 8 to its dotted position. Spring 126 automatically moves the ball, washer and pin to swing the handle to its full line position of Fig. 8 when the handle is released.

As best seen in Fig. 6, the perforated curved member 118 has its perforations 119 'equally spaced apart in a line along the member 118, and the teeth of the wheel 116 engage in theperforations as the wheel is rotated by means of handle 128, assuming the handle to be in its dotted position of Fig. 8 while the Wheel is being rotated. Hence, the rotation of wheel 116 causes the wheel to run along the curved member to actuate lever 106 either to the right or left as viewed in Fig. 8.

The locking lever 112 moves in unison with lever 106 and it has a rearwardly extending portion 111 which is spaced below the under side of forepart element 20 with a terminal down-turned edge portion at 113. T he portion 111 of lever 112 can ex toward element 20 about the bend at 1-12a therein but springs back toward its position of Fig. 6 when free of flexing pressure. The said portion 111 of lever 112 is disposed opposite pin 124 and is adapted to be flexed toward element 20 whenever the handle 128 is swung to its dotted position of Fig. 8

Locking of the clamping members 98, 100 is effected by the terminal down-turned edge portion 113 of lever 112 which edge portion extends past the curved perforated member 118 which is cut away along its upper edge as at 130 and this upper edge has ratchet notches 132 therein for coaction with the edge portion 113 of lever 112. Hence, with the handle 128 in its full line position of Fig.

8, the pin 124 will be retracted out of engagement with lever 112 andthe terminal edge portion 113 of the lever engages in a notch 132 to lock the lever 106 against move` ment in direction to open the clamping members 98, 100. However, when handle 128 is in its dotted position of Fig. 8, the pin will have exed lever 112 to disengage terminal edge portion 113 from the notched edge of curved member 118 and wheel 116 may be freely rotated to swing the levers 106, 112 to right or left as may be desired to open or close the clamping members 9S, 105). It will be apparent that the manual actuation of the clamping members 98, 100 is effected through relatively long leverage whereby opening and closing of the clamping members may be accomplished easily and quickly, and the mechanism automatically locks the clamping members when the handle is released and swings to its outof-the-way full line position of Fig. 8.

Various changes in the details of the herein disclosed roller skate may be made without departing from the scope of my invention, and it is intended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression in the appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the invention disclosed.

I claim as my invention:

1. A roller skate comprising a platform having a forcpart section and a rearpart section, a pair of rollers mounted on each said section, said forepart section comprising two superimposed plate elements of which the upper one has marginal portions thereof turned over edge portions of the underlying one securing them together, means on said underlying plate element providing a longitudinally extending space between said plate elements along the central region of the forepart section, said rearpart section comprising two superimposed plate elements of which the upper one has marginal portions thereof turned over edge portions of the underlying one securing them together, said underlying rearpart plate element having a relatively long generally rectangular portion extending forwardly into said central space between said forepart plate elements, and also having a pair of, parallel guide grooves therein rearwardly of said forwardly extending portion, said underlying forepart plate element having a rearwardly extending portion overlying said underlying plate element of the rearpart section and having flanges slidably engaging in said guide grooves of said rearpart underlying plate element, and manually releasable means for selectively locking said rearwardly extending portion of the forepart underlying plate element and said forwardly extending portion of the rearpart underlying plate element against relative movement 1ongitudinally of said platform.

2. A roller skate comprising a platform having a fore part section and a rearpart section relatively movable toward and from each other to vary the length of the platform, said forepart section comprising a pair of superimposed plate elements and a pair of oppositely disposed shoe sole clamping members, and an actuating lever for closing and opening said clamping members into and out of engagement with a shoe sole, means pivotally connecting said lever to the underlying one of said superimposed plate elements, means slidably supporting said clamping members at opposite sides of the forepart section with inner end portions of the clamping members pivotally connected to said lever at opposite sides of the pivot of the lever, manually operable actuating means for said lever comprising a toothed wheel rotatably mounted on said lever relatively remote from the pivot of the lever, a perforated element txed in position on the forepart section and having curvature about the axis of said pivot of the lever, said toothed wheel being adapted to be moved along said perforated element with its teeth engaging in the perforations thereof, a pivoted handle for manually rotating said toothed wheel thereby to actuate said lever about its pivot, and locking means carried on said lever for coaction with said perforated element to releasably lock said lever against actuation in one direction, said locking means being biased toward locking position and being responsive to a movement of said handle about its pivot for releasing the lever.

3. A roller skate comprising a platform having a forepart section and a rearpart section relatively movable toward and from each other to vary the length of the platform, said forepart section comprising a pair of superimposed plate elements and a pair of oppositely disposed shoe sole clamping members, and an actuating lever for closing and opening said clamping members into and out of engagement with a shoe sole, means pivotally connecting said lever to the underlying one of said uperimposed plate elements, means slidably supporting said clamping members at opposite sides of the forepart section with inner end portions of the clamping members pivot ally connected to said lever at opposite sides of the pivot of the lever, manually operable actuating means for said lever comprising a toothed wheel rotatably mounted on said lever relatively remote from the pivot of the lever, a perforated element xed in position on the forepart section and having curvature about the axis of said pivot of the lever, said toothed wheel being adapted to be moved along said perforated element with its teeth engaging in the perforations thereof, a pivoted handle for manually rotating said toothed wheel thereby to actuate said lever about its pivot, ratchet teeth on said perforated element, a locking element carried on said lever and constantly biased toward engagement with said ratchet teeth, and means responsive to a movement of said handle about its pivot for disengaging said locking element from said ratchet teeth at times when said toothed wheel is being rotated by said handle.

4. A roller skate comprising a plate element and a pair of oppositely disposed shoe sole clamping members, means slidably supporting said clamping members, an actuating lever pivotally connected to said plate element, said clamping members having inner end portions pivotally connected to said lever at opposite sides of the pivot of the lever, a toothed wheel rotatably mounted on said lever relatively remote from the pivot of the lever, a perforated element fixed relative to said plate element and having curvature about the axis of said pivot of the lever, said toothed wheel being adapted to be moved along said curving perforated element with its teeth en gaging in the perforations thereof, a handle for manually rotating said toothed wheel thereby to actuate said le'ver about its pivot, coacting means on said lever and said perforated element for releasably locking said lever against movement relative to the perforated element, and means associated with said handle for releasing said lever, thereby to permit manual rotation of said toothed wheel by means of said handle and consequent actuation of said lever about its pivot.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 335,438 Engelbrektson Feb. 2, 1886 343,664 King June l5, 1886 942,344 Nuttall Dec. 7, 1909 964,825 Vosseller July 19, 1910 1,618,069 Dore Feb. 15, 1927 1,757,115 Dunne May 6, 1930 1,857,360 Coldwell May 10, 1932 1,996,671 Busby Apr. 2, 1935 

